JP6133352B2 - Rotating sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilizer for sterilizing a container filled with a high-temperature liquid by bringing the high-temperature liquid into contact with the inner surface of the container facing the head space.

  Conventionally, as a method of filling a bottle such as a PET bottle or a bottle with a liquid, for example, there is a hot pack method in which a heated liquid is filled in a container.

  In this hot pack method, the portion that comes into contact with the liquid at the time of filling is sterilized, but the portion that is not in contact with the liquid (for example, the inner surface of the cap) is not sterilized. For this reason, the containers filled by the hot pack method are sterilized by overturning after filling.

  The overturning sterilization apparatus used for overturning sterilization has, for example, a transport mechanism having a pair of slat conveyors as shown in Patent Document 1, and the slat conveyors are twisted in the middle of the transport path. Then, the container is configured to change from the standing state to the falling state (side-down state) and return to the standing state again during the transfer by the transfer mechanism.

  However, in the above-described overturning sterilization apparatus, in order to maintain the overturning state for a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds or more), it is necessary to lengthen the transportation path of the transportation apparatus, leading to an increase in the size of the apparatus, and an installation space. It is difficult to make it compact. Also, when the transport path is simply shortened to make the installation space compact, it is necessary to slow the transport speed in order to maintain the overturned state for a predetermined time, resulting in poor efficiency. Further, it is necessary to change the specifications of the flat conveyor according to the type of container.

JP 2004-149172 A

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main purpose is to make it possible to sterilize containers efficiently while making the installation space compact and to easily handle various containers. It is to be an issue.

  That is, the rotary sterilization apparatus according to the present invention performs sterilization by bringing the liquid into contact with the inner surface of the container facing the head space of the container in which the cap is mounted on the container body filled with the liquid. A transport unit that transports along a predetermined transport direction in a standing state, and rotates around a rotation axis that is provided above the transport unit and holds the upper end of the transported container along the transport direction. And a rotating unit that includes a plurality of holding mechanisms that collectively hold a container group including a plurality of containers around the rotating shaft.

  With such a rotary sterilizer, the container is rotated around the rotation axis along the conveyance direction, so that the liquid contacts the inner surface of the container facing the head space for a certain time or longer without lengthening the conveyance path of the conveyance unit. Can be made. Thereby, the installation space of a rotary sterilizer can be made compact. Further, since the rotating unit includes a plurality of holding mechanisms for holding the container group collectively around the rotation axis, the container can be sterilized efficiently. Furthermore, since the rotating unit holds the upper end portion of the container, it can be easily adapted to various containers.

Each of the holding mechanisms is preferably configured to release the container group after holding the container group and then making one rotation around the rotation axis.
With this configuration, the sterilization process of the container group is completed each time each holding mechanism makes one rotation, so that the processing capacity (the number of processes per unit time) of the rotary sterilization apparatus can be improved.

The holding mechanism has a first holding part and a second holding part which are paired with each other, and at least one of the first holding part or the second holding part moves relative to the other, and the upper end part of the container It is desirable to hold.
If it is this structure, the upper end part of a container can be hold | maintained by the 1st holding | maintenance part and 2nd holding | maintenance part which make a pair mutually, and the structure of a holding | maintenance mechanism can be simplified.

A plurality of the first holding portions are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of containers, and the second holding portion is a single member common to the plurality of containers, and is between the first holding portions. Therefore, it is desirable that the container is provided so as to be movable between a holding position for holding the upper end portion of the container and a release position retracted from the holding position.
If it is this structure, a container group can be hold | maintained or released collectively only by moving a 2nd holding | maintenance part with respect to several 1st holding | maintenance part, and the structure of a holding | maintenance mechanism is simplified further. Can do.

The clamping position is located on the front side in the rotational direction, the release position is located on the rear side in the rotational direction, and the second holding portion is biased toward the clamping position by the elastic biasing force of an elastic member. And a contact member provided on a fixed side outside the rotation unit contacts the second holding portion, and the second holding portion opposes the elastic biasing force as the rotation unit rotates. It is desirable to move to the release position.
If it is this structure, the 2nd holding | maintenance part in a clamping position can be moved to a releasing position using the rotational movement of a rotation unit, and the structure for moving a 2nd holding | maintenance part can be simplified. it can.

  In order to hold the container group by the holding mechanism of the rotating unit without moving the rotating unit in the vertical direction, the rotary sterilizer is configured so that the rotation unit moves between the transfer position by the transfer unit and the delivery position with the holding mechanism. It is desirable to further include an elevating unit for elevating the container.

  In order to prevent the container from overturning when the container is lifted or lowered by the lifting unit, it is desirable that the rotary sterilizer further includes a guide mechanism for guiding the container lifted and lowered by the lifting unit.

  Thus, in the thing provided with a raising / lowering unit and a guide unit, in order not to obstruct the movement of the container rotated by the rotating unit, the holding unit holds the container which has been set to the delivery position by the raising / lowering unit. The guide unit includes a guide plate that guides the container facing the side surface of the container, and an actuator that moves the guide plate, and the actuator guides the container. It is desirable that the guide plate be moved between a guide position to be moved and a retracted position that is outside the rotation range of the container rotated by the rotating unit.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the rotating unit that holds and rotates the upper end portion of the container includes a plurality of holding mechanisms that collectively hold the container group around the rotation axis. However, the container can be sterilized efficiently and can be easily applied to various containers.

The schematic diagram which shows the head space of the container with which the liquid was filled. The front view which shows typically the structure of the rotary sterilizer of this embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the structure of the rotary sterilizer of the embodiment. The top view which shows typically a part of conveyance unit of the embodiment. The enlarged front view which mainly shows the rotation unit of the embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the structure of the holding | maintenance mechanism of the embodiment. The top view which shows typically the structure of the holding mechanism of the embodiment. The flowchart which shows from the release of the container group of the embodiment to carrying out. The flowchart which shows from carrying in of the container group of the embodiment to holding | maintenance.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a rotary sterilizer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The rotary sterilization apparatus 100 according to this embodiment performs sterilization by bringing the liquid into contact with the inner surface of the container facing the head space of the container filled with a high-temperature liquid.

  The inner surface of the container to be sterilized is an inner surface B1z of the container body B1 facing the head space HS and an inner surface B2z of the cap B2 facing the head space HS, as shown in FIG. The container body B1 is, for example, a plastic bottle such as a plastic bottle, a glass bottle, a metal bottle such as a steel can or an aluminum can, and the mouth B1a to which the cap B2 is attached has a smaller diameter than the body B1b. It has a shape.

  The sterilization process using the rotary sterilizer 100 includes a filling process in which a container body B1 is filled with a high-temperature liquid (for example, 60 ° C. or higher) using a filling apparatus, and a container body B1 filled with a high-temperature liquid. This is performed on the container B that has been subjected to the stoppering process in which the cap B2 is attached using the stopper device.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary sterilizer 100 of the present embodiment includes a transport unit 2 that transports a plurality of containers B along a predetermined transport direction in a standing state, and the transport unit 2. The rotary unit 3 that holds and rotates the upper end Bx of the transported container B, and the container B is moved up and down between the transport unit 2 and the rotary unit 3. And a guide unit 5 for guiding the container B which is moved up and down by the lifting unit 4. The upper end Bx of the container B is a part including the mouth B1a of the container body B1 and the cap B2 attached to the mouth B1a (see FIG. 1).

  The transport unit 2 transports a plurality of containers B along a linear transport direction along the horizontal direction in a standing state.

  Specifically, the transport unit 2 includes two endless belts 21 that are provided on the base 101 and form a transport path extending in the transport direction, and a circulation travel mechanism 22 that circulates the endless belt 21. .

  The circulation traveling mechanism 22 includes a driving roller 221 on which the endless belt 21 is stretched, and a motor (not shown) that rotates the driving roller 221. The two endless belts 21 are provided in parallel to each other along the transport direction.

  The transport unit 2 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the central transport unit 2a positioned below the rotation unit 3, but also from the transport unit (upstream part) 2b that transports the container to the central transport unit 2a from the outside to the central transport unit 2a. Is provided so as to extend over an unloading part (downstream part) 2c. The central transport unit 2a, the carry-in unit 2b, and the carry-out unit 2c are all linear, but are not limited to this, and may be curved.

  Furthermore, a guide rail 23 is provided in the carry-in part 2b and the carry-out part 2c to prevent the container B from falling over during carry-in / out. In addition, the carry-in section 2b of the transport unit 2 is provided with a gap adjusting section 24 such as a feed blade for making the gap between the containers B to be carried into a fixed gap (see FIG. 4). The feed blade 24 is provided on at least one side of the carry-in path 2b, and rotates and rotates along the transport direction to switch the supply and stop of the container B to the central transport unit 2a of the transport unit 2 and the central transport unit 2a. The interval between the containers B to be carried in is made constant. The rotation operation of the feed blade 24 is controlled by the control unit 7.

  The rotation unit 3 is provided vertically above the transport unit 2, holds the upper end Bx of the transported container B, and rotates it around the rotation axis C along the transport direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the rotation unit 3 includes a plurality of holding mechanisms 6 around the rotation axis C that collectively hold a container group including a plurality of containers B. More specifically, the rotation unit 3 includes a rotation member 31 that is rotatably supported by a pair of support frames 102 that are provided upright from the base 101, and is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the rotation member 31. A plurality of holding mechanisms 6 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis C. In the present embodiment, six holding mechanisms 6 are provided in the circumferential direction, and the rotating member 31 has a substantially hexagonal column shape (see FIG. 3). The rotating member 31 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the pair of support frames 102, and is configured to adjust the height position of the rotating unit 3 with respect to the transport unit 2. Specifically, it is adjusted to a height position where the holding mechanism 6 can hold the container B which has been set to the delivery position K by the lifting unit 4 described later.

  A shaft portion 311 on one end side of the rotating member 31 is connected to a drive motor 32 that is also supported by the support frame 102 (see FIG. 1), and is rotated by the drive motor 32. The rotation angle of the rotation member 31 (rotation unit 3) is detected by a rotation detection unit (for example, a rotary encoder) 33 provided on the shaft portion 312 on the other end side of the rotation member 31. Based on the detection signal of the rotation detector 33, the control unit 7 controls the drive motor 32.

  Each holding mechanism 6 has a plurality of containers B (container groups) transported to the central transport unit 2a of the transport unit 2 in a state of facing downward by the rotation of the rotating member 31, that is, in a state of being positioned above the container group. Are held together. When each holding mechanism 6 holds a container group, the container group is released in a lump in a state of facing downward. Each holding mechanism 6 of the present embodiment is configured to release the container group after one rotation around the rotation axis C after holding the container group.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the holding mechanism 6 includes a first holding portion 61 and a second holding portion 62 that are paired with each other, and at least one of the first holding portion 61 and the second holding portion 62. Is configured to move relative to the other to hold the upper end Bx of the container B.

  A plurality of first holding portions 61 of the present embodiment are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of containers B constituting the container group. In the present embodiment, the container group includes ten containers B, and ten first holding portions 61 are also provided on the rotating member 31 along the rotation axis C in a straight line at equal intervals.

  Moreover, the 2nd holding | maintenance part 62 is a single member common to the some container B which comprises a container group, and as shown in FIG. It is provided so as to be movable between a clamping position M for clamping and a release position N retracted from the clamping position M.

  Here, the holding structure by the first holding unit 61 and the second holding unit 62 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first holding unit 61 has an internal space 61 </ b> S into which the upper end Bx of the container B is inserted. In the present embodiment, the first holding unit 61 has a hollow, generally rotating body shape. Moreover, the opening part of the 1st holding | maintenance part 61 has the guide surface 611 which expands as it goes to a front-end | tip, and it is set as the structure where the upper end part Bx of the container B enters the internal space 61S easily by this guide surface 611. Furthermore, a through hole 61H communicating with the internal space 61S is formed on the side wall of the first holding part 61.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second holding part 62 moves forward and backward with respect to the internal space 61 </ b> S from the through hole 61 </ b> H formed in the side wall of the first holding part 61, and at least the holding position M The second holding part 62 is provided so as to protrude into the internal space 61S. Moreover, the part which protrudes from the internal space 61S in the holding | maintenance part 62 is formed with the recessed part 621 corresponding to the upper end part Bx of the container B (refer FIG. 7). With this configuration, when the second holding unit 62 moves to the clamping position M, the upper end Bx of the container B is between the inner peripheral surface of the first holding unit 61 and the inner surface of the recess 621 of the second holding unit 62. It is pinched. Note that the second holding portion 62 is guided to slide by a slide guide 622.

  Moreover, the 2nd holding | maintenance part 62 is provided so that it may be located in the rotation direction back with respect to the 1st holding | maintenance part 61 (refer FIG. 3, FIG. 7, etc.). Accordingly, the sandwiching position M of the second holding portion 62 is positioned on the front side in the rotation direction, and the release position N is positioned on the rear side in the rotation direction. The second holding portion 62 is urged toward the clamping position M (forward in the rotation direction) by the elastic urging force of the elastic member 63. Note that the elastic members 63 are provided at least at both ends of the second holding portion 62, and are provided at four locations in the present embodiment. Since the elastic member 63 is biased to the clamping position M in this way, the user can release the second holding unit 62 from the outside during rotation (for example, the holding mechanism 6 is positioned forward or upward). The specific container B such as defective can be removed from the holding mechanism 6 by moving to N.

  In the present embodiment, particularly as shown in FIG. 3, the abutting member 81 provided on the stationary side outside the rotating unit 3 abuts on the second holding portion 62, and the second is accompanied by the rotation of the rotating unit 3. The holding portion 62 is configured to move to the release position N against the elastic biasing force.

  Specifically, the contact member 81 is provided on each of the left and right support frames 102, and is separated from the contact position P that contacts the second holding unit 62 and the second holding unit 62 by a drive actuator 82 such as an air cylinder. The forward / backward movement between the separated positions Q is possible. Note that the separation position Q of the present embodiment is a position separated from the second holding unit 62 to the outside in the direction along the conveyance direction.

  Then, before the holding mechanism 6 is turned downward, the contact member 81 moves to the contact position P and comes into contact with the second holding portion 62, and when the holding mechanism 6 faces downward, 2 The holding body 62 moves to the release position N by the contact member 81 (see FIG. 6A). Thereby, the container B held by the holding mechanism 6 is released.

  Further, when the second holding body 62 is in the release position N, the upper end Bx of the container B is inserted into the internal space of the first holding body 61, and then the contact member 81 is moved to the separation position Q by the driving means 82. When moved, the second holding body 62 moves to the clamping position M by the elastic biasing force of the elastic member 63 (see FIG. 6B). Thereby, the upper end Bx of the container B is held by the holding mechanism 6.

  The position control of the contact member 81 is also performed by the control unit 7 that has acquired the detection signal of the rotation detection unit 33 provided in the rotation member 31.

  Further, the elevating unit 4 of the rotary sterilization apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is between a transport position where the container B is transported by the transport unit 2 and a delivery position K where the container B is held by the holding mechanism 6 (see FIG. 3). The container B is moved up and down. That is, the holding mechanism 6 is configured to hold the container B that has been brought to the delivery position K by the elevating unit 4.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the elevating unit 4 is provided in the lower part of the rotation unit 3 (the central conveyance unit 2 a of the conveyance unit) in the conveyance unit 2, and between the two endless belts 21. An elevator 41 that moves upward and an elevator actuator (not shown) such as an air cylinder that moves the elevator 41 up and down along the vertical direction are provided.

  In the lift unit 4, when the container B is set as the transport position, the lift base 41 moves to a position (retreat position J) below the upper surface of the endless belt 21, and transports the container B by the transport unit 2. It is configured not to disturb you. The delivery position K is a position where the upper end Bx of the container B is inserted into the internal space of the first holding body 61 of the holding mechanism 6. Further, the holding mechanism 6 holds the container B at the delivery position K.

  The guide unit 5 guides the container B that is moved up and down by the lifting unit 4 so as not to fall down.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide unit 5 includes a guide plate 51 that guides the container facing the side surface of the container B, and a drive actuator 52 such as an air cylinder that moves the guide plate 51. doing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the guide plate 51 sandwiches a container group that is moved up and down by the lifting platform 41 from both sides, and is provided on both sides of the transport unit 2. One guide plate 51a is formed with recesses 51a1 corresponding to the plurality of containers B in order to keep the interval between the container groups constant. The other guide plate 51b sandwiches the container B with the recess 51a1 of the one guide plate 51a, and is a flat plate in this embodiment.

  Then, the drive actuator 52 moves the guide plate 51 between a guide position X for guiding the container B and a retracted position Y retracted from the guide position X, as shown in FIG. Here, the guide position X is a position to guide until the upper end Bx of the container B is inserted into at least the first holding part 61. The retreat position Y is a position set outside the rotation range of the container B rotated by the rotation unit 3.

  The drive actuator 52 not only moves the guide plate 51 in the horizontal direction but also moves in the vertical direction, and has a horizontal drive unit 52a and a vertical drive unit 52b. With this configuration, the guide plate 51 of the guide unit 5 is configured not to obstruct the rotational movement of the container B rotated by the rotating unit 3.

Next, a series of operation | movement of the rotary sterilizer 100 comprised in this way is demonstrated.
An unsterilized container B is supplied to the carry-in portion 2b of the transport unit 2 using an external transport device or the like (not shown). When the rotary sterilizer 100 is activated in this state, the control unit 7 controls the transport unit 2 to carry a predetermined number of containers B (container group) into the central transport unit 2a of the transport unit 2. At this time, the container group is arranged at equal intervals by the interval adjusting unit 24.

  When the container group is carried into the central transport unit 2a, the control unit 7 once stops the transport unit 2. In this state, the control unit 7 controls the guide unit 5 to sandwich the container group between the guide plates 51, and controls the lifting unit 4 to raise the container group to the delivery position K by the lifting table 41. Note that the container group may be raised to the delivery position K by the elevating unit 4 after the container group is sandwiched by the guide plate 51 and the container B is stopped without stopping the transport unit 2.

  At this time, the holding mechanism 6 of the rotating unit 3 is in a downward state, and the second holding body 62 of the holding mechanism 6 is moved to the release position N by the contact member 81 at the contact position P. . And when the raising / lowering unit 4 moves to the delivery position K, the upper end part Bx of each container B will be in the state inserted in each 1st holding | maintenance part 61. FIG. In this state, the control unit 7 controls the movement actuator 82 of the contact member 81 to move the contact member 81 to the separation position Q. Thereby, the 2nd holding body 62 moves to the clamping position M, and the holding mechanism 6 hold | maintains a container group collectively.

  In this state, the control unit 7 controls the lifting unit 4 to move the lifting platform 41 below the endless belt 21 and controls the guide unit 5 to move the guide plate 51 to the retracted position Y. Then, the control unit 7 controls the drive motor 32 of the rotation unit 3 to rotate the rotation unit 3 so that the next holding mechanism 6 faces downward (rotation by 60 degrees in this embodiment). Such an operation is repeated until all of the six holding mechanisms 6 of the rotating unit 3 hold the container group.

  Then, before the holding mechanism 6 holding the container B is rotated once and turned downward, the control unit 7 controls the elevating unit 4 so that the elevating platform 41 is held by the holding mechanism 6. It is set to such an extent that it does not come into contact with B (receiving position L) (FIG. 8A). Further, the control unit controls the drive actuator 82 to move the contact member 81 to the contact position P.

  In this state, when the holding mechanism 6 holding the container B is turned downward, the contact member 81 comes into contact with the second holding portion 62 and the holding mechanism 6 faces downward, and at the same time, the sterilized container The group is released at once (FIG. 8B). The released container group is placed on the lifting platform 41. In this state, the upper end portion Bx of the container B is in a state of being inserted into the internal space 61 </ b> S of the first holding portion 61. Thereafter, the control unit controls the guide unit 5 to move the guide plate 51 to the guide position X (FIG. 8C). Then, the control unit 7 lowers the elevator 41 to the retracted position J and lowers the container group to the transport position, and places the container group on the transport unit 2 (endless belt 21) (FIG. 8D). Thereafter, the control unit 7 controls the guide unit 5 to bring the guide plate 51 into the retracted position Y, and controls the transport unit 2 to carry out the sterilized container group from the central transport unit 2a to the carry-out path 2c (see FIG. 8 (E)). At the same time, an unsterilized container group is carried into the central conveyance unit 2a from the carry-in path 2b (FIG. 9A).

  Then, the control unit 7 controls the guide unit 5 to move the guide plate 51 to the guide position X (FIG. 9B). Next, the control unit 7 controls the elevating unit 4 to raise the elevating table 41 and raise the unsterilized container group to the delivery position K (FIG. 9C). When the elevating unit 4 moves the container group to the delivery position K, the control unit 7 controls the movement actuator 82 of the contact member 81 to move the contact member 81 to the separation position Q. Thereby, the 2nd holding body 62 moves to the clamping position M, and hold | maintains a container group collectively.

  In this state, the control unit 7 controls the lifting unit 4 to lower the lifting platform 41 to the receiving position L that does not interfere with the rotating container B, and controls the guide unit 5 to move the guide plate 51 to the retracted position Y. It is moved (FIG. 9D). Then, the control unit 7 controls the drive motor 32 of the rotation unit 3 to rotate the rotation unit 3 so that the holding mechanism 6 holding the next sterilized container group faces downward (see FIG. 9 (E)).

  Then, when the holding mechanism 6 holding the next sterilized container group is rotated and turned downward, the contact member 81 moved to the contact position P contacts the second holding part 62, The container group is released simultaneously with the holding mechanism 6 facing downward (FIG. 8 (A) → (B)).

  In this way, “release by the first holding mechanism → carrying out the sterilized container and carrying in the unsterilized container → holding the unsterilized container” → “rotation of the rotating unit” → “by the second holding mechanism Release → Carrying out sterilized container and carrying in unsterilized container → Holding unsterilized container ”→“ Rotating rotating unit ”→ ... →“ Release by sixth holding mechanism → Carrying out sterilized container And a series of operations such as “unloading unsterilized container → holding unsterilized container” are sequentially performed.

<Effect of this embodiment>
According to the rotary sterilization apparatus 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the container B is rotated around the rotation axis C along the transport direction, so that the liquid is supplied to the headspace without lengthening the transport path of the transport unit 2. The container inner surfaces B1z and B2z facing the HS can be brought into contact with each other for a certain period of time. Thereby, the installation space of the rotary sterilizer 100 can be made compact. In addition, since the rotation unit 3 includes a plurality of holding mechanisms 6 around the rotation axis C that collectively hold the container group, the container B can be sterilized efficiently. Furthermore, since the rotation unit 3 holds the upper end portion Bx of the container B, it is possible to easily cope with various containers B.

  Since the sterilization process of the container group is completed every time each holding mechanism 6 rotates around the rotation axis C, the processing capacity of the rotary sterilization apparatus 100 can be improved. Here, the container group can be collectively held or released simply by moving the second holding portion 62 of the holding mechanism 6 relative to the plurality of first holding portions 61, and the configuration of the holding mechanism 6 is further increased. It can be simplified.

  The contact member 81 provided on the fixed side outside the rotation unit 3 contacts the second holding portion 62, and the second holding portion 62 moves to the release position N against the elastic biasing force as the rotation unit 3 rotates. Therefore, by utilizing the rotational movement of the rotary unit 3, the second holding part 62 at the clamping position M can be moved to the release position N, and the configuration for moving the second holding part 62 is simplified. be able to.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, the holding mechanism is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and a plurality of first holding portions provided for each of a plurality of containers may be configured by a single member. For example, a single member having a plurality of internal spaces into which a plurality of containers are inserted may be used.

  The second holding portion may not be a single member, may be a plurality of members provided for each of a plurality of containers, or may be a member common to two or more first holding portions.

  Moreover, you may comprise not only a 2nd holding | maintenance part but the 1st holding | maintenance part so that advancing and retreating is possible with respect to a 2nd holding | maintenance part.

  Further, the abutting member of the embodiment moves the second holding portion to the release position in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary unit, but the second holding portion after the holding mechanism is turned downward. The part may be pressed and moved to the release position. Further, the mechanism for moving the second holding unit is not limited to the abutting member, and may be provided in the rotary unit 3 to move the second holding unit.

  The rotating unit of the above embodiment rotates in one direction, but may rotate in both directions. In this case, if the rotating unit rotates within an angle range of 90 degrees or more, the inner surface of the container facing the head space can be sterilized.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Rotary sterilizer B ... Container B1 ... Container main body B2 ... Cap Bx ... Upper end part 2 of container ... Conveyance unit 3 ... Rotating unit 6 ... Holding mechanism 61 ... 1st holding part 62 ... 2nd holding part M ... clamping position N ... release position 63 ... elastic member 81 ... contact member K ... delivery position 4 ... Lifting unit 5 ・ ・ ・ Guide unit 51 ・ ・ ・ Guide plate 52 ・ ・ ・ Actuator X ・ ・ ・ Guide position Y ・ ・ ・ Retraction position

Claims (4)

A container body filled with liquid is sterilized by bringing the liquid into contact with the inner surface of the container facing the head space of the container,
A transport unit that transports a plurality of containers upright along a predetermined transport direction; and
A rotation unit that is provided above the transfer unit, holds the upper end of the transferred container, and rotates around a rotation axis along the transfer direction;
The rotating unit includes a plurality of holding mechanisms around the rotating shaft that collectively hold a container group including a plurality of containers ,
Each holding mechanism has a first holding part and a second holding part which are paired with each other,
At least one of the first holding part or the second holding part moves relative to the other to hold the upper end part of the container,
A plurality of the first holding portions are provided corresponding to the plurality of containers,
The second holding part is a single member common to the plurality of containers, and is between a holding position for holding the upper end of the container between the first holding part and a release position retracted from the holding position. Rotating sterilizer provided so as to be movable.   2. The rotary sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein each holding mechanism releases the container group after holding the container group and then making one rotation around the rotation axis. The clamping position is located on the front side in the rotational direction, and the release position is located on the rear side in the rotational direction;
The second holding part is urged toward the clamping position by an elastic urging force of an elastic member,
A contact member provided on the fixed side outside the rotation unit contacts the second holding portion, and the second holding portion moves to the release position against the elastic biasing force as the rotation unit rotates. The rotary sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2 . A lifting unit that lifts and lowers the container between a transport position by the transport unit and a delivery position with the holding mechanism;
A guide unit for guiding a container that is lifted and lowered by the lifting unit;
The holding mechanism is configured to hold the container that has been placed in the delivery position by the elevating unit;
The guide unit has a guide plate that guides the container facing the side surface of the container, and an actuator that moves the guide plate,
The rotary sterilizer according to claim 3 , wherein the actuator moves the guide plate between a guide position for guiding the container and a retracted position that is outside a rotation range of the container rotated by the rotating unit.